AtLA Modern: Year 2, Gen. 1

Chapter 1

It seemed as though once everyone was cool again, time flew by. Summer turned to fall, with the seniors moving out and two more high schoolers joining the dorm. One Dai already knew; her younger cousin, Hugyeja. She got along well with everyone for the most part. Though she could be a bit like Dai's worse side at times, she was overall pretty innocent and fun to be around. Her and Sokka hit it off pretty well, to Dai's delight. The other student was Weixiao, a younger earth and metal bender. She was a bit different than the others, though. While Dai and Toph were fully proud of their power, and Athlea and Katara were more than willing to show their own, Wei rarely boasted or even used her bending. She was quiet, and girly, and it was clear her and Toph would be best friends, though Sokka seemed offended that he couldn't make her laugh.

Meanwhile, the others had moved onto college. Zuko and Xilah ended up in business administration, Sokka in Political Science. Athlea had forgiven Xilah, Dagi, and Sahel, and oddly enough the group had become friends, along with Xilah's girlfriend, Seina, who he'd dated before Katara as well as after. 

Zuko was walking alongside Thea, holding her hand loosely, his eyes on the red leaves above him. Xilah had an arm around Seina, his head turned toward Sokka, who was behind him and Seina along with Dagi and Sahel. They planned to go back to the dorms to hang out with the high schoolers now that they'd finished signing up for classes and touring campus. Sahel and Athlea went to a BrightCrown Medical School, while the rest of them went to StarSnatch University, but they had come along regardless. 

"And when I said that she was so serious, as if someone stole her childhood teddy bear and destroyed it in front of her!" Sokka was saying. 

"That would be funny. To see her face, I mean. I-I can just imagine," Dagi responded with a laugh.

"You guys are mean," Sahel pointed out.

"Not my fault she can't take a joke!" Sokka said in his defense, arms raised. 

Zuko had overheard Sokka and just chuckled, shaking his head. "You ever consider that maybe you're just... not funny, Sokka?" he teased. 

Xilah glared at Sokka. "Shut up, dude."

"Relax, Xilah." Seina rolled her eyes and shook her head, gaze forward. "When are lectures starting?"

"We start next week," Sahel said with a smile. 

"At... Then that means the StarSnatch babies--us--start in two weeks, no?" Dagi asked.

"I heard in one week." Sokka tilted his head, lips pressed together.

"...This is useless," Seina muttered.

Zuko rolled his eyes at her. "Just check your email." Then he paused, stopping and turning toward Athlea, taking her hands in his own. "Thea."

Athlea had her chin tilted up, taking in the reds, oranges, and yellows of the fallings leaves. "It's very lovely. Autumn, that is. Funny, too, autumn weather is... perfect in a way." She blnked and turned toward Zuko, tilting her head and raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Oh, oh, oh!" Dagi caught everyone's attention.

"It's happening?" Sahel smiled brightly.

"By the looks of it," Seina responded.

"Huh? Huh? What's happening?" Sokka glanced at everyone in confusion before looking over at Athlea and Zuko. "What are they doing? Stopping in the middle of the road, exchanging sweet whispers or something?"

"Ooo, he's doing it! Where's my phone?" Dagi started patting his pockets, while Sahel was already recording, a pleased smile on his face.

"Oi! Why did nobody inform me of this?" Sokka demanded.

"Because you can't keep a secret and would've spilled everything," Seina responded.

"Not true!" Sokka crossed his arms, pouting. "...Maybe partially." Seina shook her head and leaned it on Xilah's arm. Xilah snorted, giving Seina a kiss on the forehead and snickering before turning to Athlea and Zuko.

Zuko leaned closer to Athlea, their foreheads almost touching. He slid his thumb over her promise ring. "I made you a promise that I fully intend to keep," he started quietly. 

"Yeah, I remember that," she said calmly.

"I knew just days into meeting you that I wanted to be with you forever." He slid to one knee, pulling out a small red box and opening it to reveal a ring, his eyes on hers, which widened in surprise. "Will you marry me, Thea?"

"Oh my god, oh my god." Dagi grinned, a chuckle escaping him. "This is so exciting." A grin spread across Xilah's face.

A bright pink crossed Athlea's cheeks. "Zuko..." She trailed off, kneeling in front of him and wrapping her arms around him. "Yes. Yes, yes! A thousand times yes!" she said, smiling.

Zuko let out a breath and laughed, his arms sliding around her. He hugged her for a moment, then leaned back to kiss her, eyes shining. Seina snapped a picture. "Put it on," he murmured, pushing the ring toward her. Athlea giggled softly, sliding the ring onto her finger. Zuko pulled her close once the ring was on, kissing her again.

Seina shoved her phone back in her pocket, apparently content with her one picture. "That was so fast," Sokka pointed out.

"I don't sit around. It's now or never," she responded with a shrug.

"Oh, now it's party time, baby." Dagi grinned.

Sokka's eyes lit up. "Party!"

"For their engagement," Sahel agreed, a smile on his face. 

Athlea watched the ring sparkling on her finger before she looked at Zuko, a soft smile crossing her face as she reached out to caress his cheek. "I love you."

His hand went to her opposite cheek. "I love you too."

Xilah interrupted with "Hey, I'll text Dai and let her know you weren't rejected."

"So mean." Seina shook her head at him.

Xilah pursed his lips and pinched Seina's ass. Her eyes widened and she took a step forward. "Xilah!" She grabbed his wrist, turning away with a faint blush on her cheeks.

Zuko glanced over and huffed, pulling Athlea with him to stand. Athlea glanced around, raising an eyebrow. "Poor Sokka," she said with a soft giggle. She glanced back at the ring, a bright smile on her face.

"She's happy," Sahel observed. Xilah scoffed.

Dagi rolled his eyes. "Obviously. It's every woman's dream, duh. Get engaged, a shiny diamond, then marriage, blah, blah, blah."

Seina glared at him. "You're an idiot." 

Xilah smirked, tugging Seina closer. "You don't wanna marry me?" he teased.

"Let's see when you pop the question." Seina winked, heading to the car and grabbing his hand.

"I caught some nice pictures and a cute video!" Sahel announced.

Zuko nodded. "Come on, idiots, let's get home." He led the way to the car, his arm linked with Athlea's.

"I hope we have food," Sokka said, walking alongside Dagi.

"Yeah, me too."

***

A/N can we just appreciate that Sokka hasn't seen Dai in three months and his biggest concern is food? lmfao. anyways yay they're hitched !!!